Naqš-i Rajab

Investiture Relief of Shapur I

Hidden in the shade is the investiture relief of Shapur
I (241-272), the son and successor of Ardašir, who had ordered the first relief at Naqš-i Rajab. It shows his inauguration (on 20
March 242) and is inspired by the investiture
relief of Ardašir at
Naqš-i Rustam. The difference is the absence of defeated
enemies, which proves that it was made before Shapur repulsed a Roman
army. On other reliefs (e.g., Bishapur I), we can see a dead Gordian III and a Philip offering his submission. The relief opposite the Investiture Relief, the Equestrian Relief, has about the same age.

So, we can only see how Shapur receives the
ring of power from his god. The faces of the two figures
have unfortunately, long time ago, been damaged by someone who obviously did
not like Zoroastrianism.